UCD claimed a number of titles in the recent World Collegiate title in Phoenix, Arizona with Marianne Rushe retaining her Division 1 Open Womens title.

UCD's Marianna Rushe has retained her Division 1 Open Women's World Collegiate singles title in Phoenix, Arizona this past weekend. She was in devastating form on her way to the final easily defeating Jenny Mackoul and Emily McMahill of Missouri State in earlier rounds. In the semi final she carried on in the same vein defeating Cara Arsenault of Missouri State 21-3, 21-10. Her opponent in the final was also a Missouri State student, Bailey Chandler. The final looked like an easy victory for Rushe after a 21-6 victory in the first, however Chandler pulled back a 19-10 deficit in the second game to take it to a tie-breaker. Rushe regained her composure in the tie-breaker to defeat Chandler 11-1.

In the Open Women's doubles Marianna teamed up with her sister Hilary to win their second doubles title together in two years. Once again it was the girls from Missouri State who put the girls under pressure in the final. Team UCD trailed the whole of the first game until a late run closed the game out for them 21-14. The second was a tight affair and at 16-16 the game could have went either way. Marianna however showed her class and with Hilarys help lifted their game to another level and took the title. The Rushes once again showed their dominance at home and abroad in all competitions this year in college handball.

In the Men's Division 1 Intermediate competition UCD's Declan Smith defeated UL's John Fitzgerald in a tight final in the tie-breaker 11-6 after losing the first game 21-18 and winning his second 21-13. Smith traded scores with Fitzgerald in the tie-breaker but just had enough to see out his opponent.

(Marianna Rushe with title- Jake Plummer Former NFL quarter back who sponsored the event, Bailey Chandler, Marianna Rushe, Padraig Gaffney- Irish Handball Council Rep, Fred Lewis WPH President l-r).